A massive rivalry reignites as Australia take on New Zealand for the first time in Test cricket since 2011. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage of Day 1 from 10:30am (AEDT).
While he has already captained Australia on a couple of individual occasions when Michael Clarke was out with injury, Steve Smith now takes over on a permanent basis and will immediately feel the pressure against a strong New Zealand side.
Other new faces in the Australian side from their last Ashes Test in England include Joe Burns, who will open the batting with David Warner, and Usman Khawaja, who is the new first drop.
Khawaja is seemingly on his last chance to fire in the Australian Test team.
Burns, meanwhile, didn’t disappoint when he was given the opportunity to bat at six for Australia last summer and was a surprising omission from the Ashes touring squad. Now he gets a chance to bat in his preferred position at the top of the order and lock down a spot.
New Zealand are stable from their last Test series against the English away from home. That series was tied at one game apiece and proved the Black Caps are becoming one of the best teams in world cricket.
The Kiwis started their Aussie tour in Canberra with a one-day game using the pink ball, winning by over 100 runs. However only Tim Latham and Martin Guptil scored runs, with the rest of the order falling away.
It was then onto a two-day game, again in Canberra, which New Zealand again won. However, they only took four wickets and retired six batsmen during their chase.
Blacktown would be the venue of their final tour match, a proposed four-day game that only went for one-and-a-half days after Cricket Australia XI opening batsmen Aaron Finch and Ryan Carters put on a partnership of over 500 runs, before the game was abandoned with the pitch deemed unsafe.
The battle in Brisbane looks like it will be between the pace bowlers, particularly in the first innings. From all reports, it will be played on a typical Gabba pitch – green and aiding the pace bowlers early on.
Both teams have strong pace attacks, with the likes of Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood for the Australians, while New Zealand have Tim Southee and Trent Boult, who terrorised in the World Cup, and were good during the tour of England.
Both teams will be keen to keep the match moving, with the Brisbane weather forecast looming less than impressive. Rain or storms in some form are expected for each and every day of the match.
Join The Roar for live coverage as cricket returns from 10:30am (AEDT) and be sure to leave your comments as the day unfolds.
Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde
Pete McAloney
Roar Pro
I'm worried about the weather :( We're still going in (obviously) but will be taking umbrellas. Luckily we've got NFL gamepass on the phone so we can watch the Bengals v Browns game.
barryoh
Guest
I'll just be interested to see whether the kiwis want to have a bat this time.
Bobbo7
Guest
After the new ball it looks a pretty good batting deck. NZ bowled poorly and Auatralia played very well. But 380-odd for 2 still leads me to conclude its pretty good to bat on.
Sir Ritchie
Guest
I said to John Key we'd take the Aussies apart in RWC, less than a week later they're taking the Black Caps apart. Revenge.
Brian hand
Guest
Evidently another flat track making average batsmen look good
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
That's my point. I'm not saying it was a road. It played pretty well though (especially after the initial tight period) and reserve judgement until both sides have batted. Tell the truth, unless the Aussies have a record collapse and lose all of the rest of their wickets for about 5 runs, the inferred pressure from a probable huge total will get more than a few wickets.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Batsmen played it smart; patient early, more active as the ball aged, Boult bowling like a man who isn't quite recovered from injury yet (or not confident in his recovery) and Craig bowled poorly too (he did this in England also, poor at Lords, especially in the first innings then good later on).
Scott Pryde
Expert
Exactly, and I think that was demonstrated early in the piece. Warner and Burns had to work really hard for their runs. I also think, despite the fact New Zealand didn't help themselves that Australia batted so well. Credit really must go to them. As they say though, don't judge a pitch until both teams have batted on them!
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Did you watch the day's play Dalgety? The pitch wasn't a road at all. There was plenty in the deck for the bowlers - lots of bounce, good pace and enough seam movement, and even good assistance for Craig who was getting quick turn and good bounce. The Kiwis just bowled poorly and the Aussies played the conditions perfectly, particularly the opening pair who rode out the tough early period when the ball was doing plenty and cashed in once set. I'm really surprised how many people are trying to paint that pitch as a road. For me it was pretty much the perfect day 1 pitch - plenty of help for bowlers who are on song and reward for batsmen who work hard.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Great day for the Aussies, a record haul for opening day I believe. Well done in particular to Davey Warner and Usie Khawaja brilliant knocks. Very good toss to win.
Jameswm
Guest
Some random thoughts. Early on and throughout most of the day - Boult a bit disappointing, Southee better than I expected. Burns looked a little more solid than WSarner, though he struggled to score early. Bracewell looked very ordinary for an over or two, but improved. The all rounder (forgot his name) ordinary. At one stage there were three balls to go before lunch, bowling at Burns, and he bowled 3 in a row short and wide and Burns very happily let them go. Aussies seemed to have a plan to attack the spinner, and it worked. He struggled to settle. Khawaja and Smith very positive their whole innings. Wicket was typical Gabba - good to bat on if you get your eye in and are positive. There was some swing and seam, but the Kiwis (surprisingly) didn't put the ball in the right areas often enough. My guess is Aussies to bat till lunch or up to an hour afterwards. No wonder NZ couldn't get through the overs, with McCullum making wholesale fielding changes every couple of balls. Ironically it seemed to put his bowlers off more than the Aussie batsmen.
13th Man
Guest
What a great day! Khawaja made me eat my words, pleased to be proven wrong on this occasion. Warner was brilliant, Burns looked good too. How depressing must it have been for NZ when they finally get Dave Warner out at 2/300 only to see Smith walk out to bat. Watch him ton up tomorrow, again! Voges still to come, should make 600! NZ bowled terribly, yes its a bit of a road but there was something in it, Only Southee could find someting. The much vaunted Kiwi attack were pretty average. I doubt the Mitchells will bowl that badly. McCullum's captaincy was pretty poor early on, he changed too much around, tried to be too funky at times, I really like his captaincy but he was too impatient today. Mark Craig is very average, what happened to that leggie Sodhi? he is better than Craig. Lyon won't bowl that badly. Doesn't look good for the Kiwis at this stage.
Sideline Comm.
Guest
The pitch is good, the kiwis bowled badly. Simple as that.
Brendon
Guest
Well done Khawaja. Look at his strike today compared to his failures in the past.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
A lopsided contest between bat and ball there. It'll be interesting to see how the Kiwi's go when eventually it's their turn to bat and if the pitch is one of those that the CFO from CA has ordered.
Scott Pryde
Expert
No problems Matt! Great day for the Aussies. I don't think anyone anticipated it would be that good. New Zealand certainly did themselves no favours. See you tomorrow.
Scott Pryde
Expert
No problems Existentialist, Brilliant performance by them. Be interesting to see how long Smith wants to bat on for tomorrow
Mattw
Guest
Thanks for the coverage scott, nice work. Amazing day for australia, really didn't see us going this well on day one. Our batsmen have all looked good,Warner and khawaja both batted beautifully. (And smith is currently on 98% control ha!) but on the other hand NZ have bowled pretty poorly. The pitch is a good batting pitch but there is something in it, they just haven't taken advantage! Still 4 days to go, see you tomorrow.
Existentialist
Guest
Thanks Scott. congrats on the top order for a stellar performance. In particular our newbies (sort of) !! carry on and dominate tomorrow.
Scott Pryde
Expert
No problems Tom.